President Rob Copeland statement on FINA Release

I don't think a "BANNED LIST" would work. Simply because you might get a banned list now, but what would stop adidas/speedo/jaked/et al from just making a completely new rubber suit that we can go buy and wear? Well hey, it isn't banned, right? I disagree, because many of these are suits that FINA previously approved. Yes, any new suit should need to be approved, but if they are going to disallow, ban, whatever you want to call it, a previously allowed suit then I think they should explicitly state this.

Pandora's Box: opened! I think this is going to continue to be a major clusterf...k all around if the "letter of the law" trumps "the spirit of the law"--and where in sports has this ever not been the case? Most swimmers, I think, agree that some suits should be banned--1/4" wet suits, for instance. Or jammers with built in pull buoys. Or suits that cover the entire body, including the hands and feet, and provide webbing on these extremities. On the other hand, most swimmers agree that some of the older style body suits should be kosher--an Aquablade, and Johnny Weismuller's wool body suit from yesteryear, have the same shape, just some difference in fabric. But the closer you get to the line separating the clearly legal and the clearly illegal, the more quibbling and claims of unfairness there are likely to be. Let's face it: for the vast majority of masters swimmers who are passionate about this debate, the line in the sand is marked by the B70. Some consider this a wetsuit. Others consider it a body suit, only slightly different from a LSR. The fact that B70 is a sponsor of USMS further complicates the picture, sort of like drug advertising in medical journals. We are definitely in the middle of a "letter of the law" situation now, and I don't think any good will come of this. If the B70 remains legal, then how long before the B70 Plus hits the market, then the B70 Plus Ultra, and so forth? I loved swimming in the B70, but in my heart of hearts, it felt like a wet suit. I think a lot of folks will agree with this, and maybe rail at the unfairness of Speedo's LSR still being legal because of a few water infiltration panels here and there. I certainly don't envy whoever is making this decision, and as incompetent as FINA may be, I don't think any body vested with this decision is likely to emerge unscathed by wrath and criticism.

I'm gathering that the clarification needs to be really for technical suits (although someone could argue that their practice suit IS a tech suit, but I won't go there). It would seem to me from here on out that the suit manufacturers are not allowed to put new tech suits on the market (on the rack, in the stores, on the Internet!) unless they have prior FINA approval. Had this been the protocol originally this entire "mess" could have been avoided.

That said, I also wish people would stop claiming FINA is like OMG THE WORST THING EVA!!!! because they disagree. I guess I would fall into that group. Do you not think that FINA has completely blown the tech suit issue for many years? Are there any issues in our sport that are more important than tech suits at this time (other than maybe PEDs)? I don't really care which suits they ban or don't ban because I don't use tech suits. However, when I look back at the evolution of this issue FINA has lacked judgement, foresight, and appropriate communication every step of the way. It is now to the point of just being ridiculous. What else does FINA do for our sport other than set standards, hold a few championship meets, and recognize records? They leave everything else to swimming organizations in each country. USMS and USS do a lot more for us and I am appreciative even when they make occasional mistakes, but FINA seems to not be performing very well. Tim

I disagree, because many of these are suits that FINA previously approved. Yes, any new suit should need to be approved, but if they are going to disallow, ban, whatever you want to call it, a previously allowed suit then I think they should explicitly state this. Knelson, I agree with you. How can they ban something that was already approved? This is nuts.

I think FINA should let manufacturers start over - Give a specific criteria and allow the manufacturers to produce products that meet that criteria. Trying to do it in reverse appears to be arbitrary and inconsistent. Then they could have a phase-out period for "old suits" that is reasonable enough to respect swimmers' pocketbooks.

Adding to my earlier post, doesn't major league baseball regulate bats? Aren't bats to baseball what suits are to swimming? Batters can't just show up to a game with "Batzilla" hit the ball out of the park, down the street, or over to FINA across the ocean! I am amazed (and I guess a little slow on the uptake) at the short sightedness of FINA on this issue. If they spent half as much time scrutinizing their own policy (or lack thereof) as they did "testing" suits we might actually get somewhere. It seems FINA is in first aid mode.

I think FINA should let manufacturers start over - Give a specific criteria and allow the manufacturers to produce products that meet that criteria. Trying to do it in reverse appears to be arbitrary and inconsistent. Then they could have a phase-out period for "old suits" that is reasonable enough to respect swimmers' pocketbooks. This is exactly what FINA is doing (poorly, to be sure).

Picked this up from the open water segment. FINA, USA swimming, USMS should take a look at this and provide something similar. How to end questions and make it black it white. What's approved and what isn't. channelswimmingassociation.com/.../Swim_Costumes.pdf

OK. so what I am supposed to do. Can't buy a B70 cause it may not be legal for USMS by the time I use it. There is no time frame given by the USMS and its usms legality could change any day making it hard to justify a purchase. Yet the guy in the lane next to me can wear one. And its tough to purchase a suit on the approved list since there are no guarantees the suit I purchase will be legal at the end of this year. $400 for 3 or 4 meets does not make a whole lot of sense. I was hoping to compete more this year, but now I think it may be best to wait until next year.